A beverage dispenser includes an inlet for drawing a liquid from a source and an outlet for outputting a beverage to a portable user vessel. A demineralization device demineralizes the liquid from the source and has an input and an output. The input of the demineralization device is coupled with the inlet. A beverage preparation device has an input and an output. The input of the beverage preparation device is coupled with the output of the demineralization device and the output of the beverage preparation device is coupled with the outlet. The beverage preparation device, the outlet, all active components and all passive components downstream of the demineralization device contacting the beverage are made of a biological inert material, particularly a biological inert metal, on any surface contacting the water. All couplings of the beverage dispenser are manufactured such that stagnation even of small quantities of beverage is avoided.

A plurality of bypass lines are configured to selectively engage a corresponding plurality of food flow paths in a food processor. Each bypass line fluidly communicates with an inlet of a pressure regulating valve such that a common pressure occurs at a spaced position in each food flow path providing an equal pressure at the pressure regulating valve.

A refrigerator may be provided with a dispenser which includes a nozzle pipe; a light source that radiates ultraviolet light from one end of the nozzle pipe to an inner space of the nozzle pipe, a window that is provided between the one end of the nozzle pipe and the light source, and a liquid supplying hose barb connected to the nozzle pipe via an elbow. Liquid exiting the elbow swirls as ultraviolet light is irradiated onto the liquid.

The present invention describes appliances for preparing and dispensing beverages, such as beers, featuring a transparent window that allows a user of the appliance to view the beverage in a chamber of the appliance as that beverage is being prepared. The chamber in which the beverage is prepared can be either an integral part of the appliance or a disposable chamber that can be removed and replaced with a new disposable chamber after one or more servings of a. beverage has been prepared in the disposable chamber. The appliances can have methods for cleaning the chamber, or the chamber can be self-cleaning. If the chamber for preparing the beverage is a disposable container, it may come with a concentrated beverage already prepackaged in the container, and the casing of the container can prevent oxygen and light from penetrating the container and affecting the concentrated beverage contained within.

A beverage-making apparatus includes a fermentation tank assembly including a fermentation tank having an opening formed therein and a fermentation tank cover configured to open and close the opening. The beverage-making apparatus also includes a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured to circulate a refrigerant therethrough and to control a temperature of the fermentation tank as the evaporator is disposed at the fermentation tank. The beverage-making apparatus further includes a heat insulating wall surrounding both the fermentation tank and the evaporator.

A beverage-making apparatus includes a fermentation tank assembly including a fermentation tank having an opening formed therein and a fermentation tank cover configured to open and close the opening. The beverage-making apparatus also includes a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured to circulate a refrigerant therethrough and to control a temperature of the fermentation tank as the evaporator is disposed at the fermentation tank. The beverage-making apparatus further includes a heat insulating wall surrounding both the fermentation tank and the evaporator.

A method of disinfecting a beverage dispenser employs the following steps: disinfecting at least one beverage preparation device of the beverage dispenser as a preceding disinfection step; outputting the beverage by the beverage dispenser, wherein the beverage passes the at least one beverage preparation device; determining the set point of time of the next disinfection step since the preceding disinfection step depending on at least one of the following: volume of beverage output by the beverage dispenser; temperature of beverage output by the beverage dispenser; carbonization of beverage output by the beverage dispenser; further comprising the following steps: mineralizing the beverage with a plurality of ions; dispensing the beverage with a first temperature and mineralizing the beverage with a first concentration of hydrogen carbonate ions; and dispensing the beverage with a second temperature and mineralizing the beverage with a second concentration of hydrogen carbonate ions, wherein the first temperature is lower than the second temperature and the first concentration is higher than the second concentration.

A cleaning device for cleaning a dispensing nozzle assembly of a beverage dispenser is disclosed. The dispensing nozzle assembly may include a macro-ingredient/diluent outlet and a number of micro-ingredient outlets surrounding the macro-ingredient/diluent outlet. The cleaning device may include a handle, a head end rotatably attached to the handle, a guidance protrusion extending from the head end, a first set of bristles extending from the head end and surrounding the guidance protrusion, and a second set of bristles extending from the head end adjacent to the first set of bristles.

The present invention provides a method for controlling a drinking-water supply device, the method comprising: a first step of connecting a guide pipe of a case separated from a cabinet to form a channel through which water moves from the case to the cabinet; a second step of supplying the cabinet with hot water heated by a second hot water module included in the case; and a third step of supplying the cabinet with water which has not passed through the second hot water module included in the case, wherein a first hot water module, included in the cabinet, for heating water is not driven in the second step and the third step.

A refrigerator provided with a dispenser, wherein a water discharging member that is installed in the dispenser includes: a nozzle pipe; a light source that radiates ultraviolet light from one end of the nozzle pipe to an inner space of the nozzle pipe; and a window that is provided between the one end of the nozzle pipe and the light source, that divides the inner space of the nozzle pipe and an area where the light source is disposed and that transmits ultraviolet light radiated from the light source to the nozzle pipe.